Very interesting
Showing posts with label Pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pain. Show all posts
Most of us will experience the distress caused by chronic pain at some point in our lives. Due to illness, injury, or age, chronic pain can linger on for months or even years and severely affect your quality of life.
There are a variety of different methods to treat the chronic pain you or a loved one may be suffering. Some may involve medication, or possibly even surgery to correct the problem. However, there are also a number of options available that do not involve medication or invasive surgery techniques. Here are a few ideas to consider.
PRP Treatments
One of the exciting new methods of healing chronic pain that has become popular in recent years is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment. PRP treatments work by using components of blood plasma to induce healing.
Blood is taken from the individual who requires the treatment, and is then analyzed and separated into its component parts (plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). The platelets have an important function of clotting blood and contain proteins called growth factors, which are essential in the healing process of injuries. Nexus pain specialists from Utah say the concentration of these platelets is increased, before being combined once again with the remaining blood. The blood is then re-injected into the affected area to stimulate healing. This treatment has become particularly popular amongst athletes to effectively recover from chronic pain caused by sprains and tendon injuries.
Manual Techniques
A well-proven method of healing chronic pain without surgery is to use manual stimulation techniques, such as massage to promote healing. A chiropractor or osteopathic doctor can manipulate joints and apply pressure to muscles, tendons and ligaments. This improves blood flow and reduces muscle stiffness, allowing chronic pain to be treated effectively in many cases. It’s great for reducing swollen joints and if done regularly can be a good treatment for those who want to skip time spent recovering from surgery.
Electrotherapy
This method can be useful to suffers of chronic joint pain and has proved to be particularly effective when treating back pain. The most commonly used type of electrotherapy is known as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). This therapy works by stimulating muscles in areas that are causing pain by sending a low-voltage electric signal into the tissue. You should ask your doctor if this kind of treatment could work for you.
Electrotherapy has the effect of changing the way the nervous system interprets pain signals and can temporarily relieve chronic back pain, making it effective for many people. Portable TENS machines can also be purchased for use within the home.
The type of treatment you choose will depend largely on the type of pain you are experiencing and where you get it most. Thankfully, with the amazing range of treatments now available for the management of chronic pain, you should be able to find something that works for you without the need for invasive surgery or dependence on medications. Talk with your physician and see if they can suggest any other treatments that may be helpful for your situation.
When you jerk your neck a little harder than usual, it can be concerning. A neck injury has the potential to develop into whiplash, which can range from minor to serious. Here are some of the signs of whiplash along with ways to treat it.
Signs of Whiplash
The most common and obvious sign of whiplash is pain in the neck. This can be either a constant pain, or a pain when you move your neck along one of its axes. Likewise, the pain can be very moderate to very severe, with implications on how to manage the injury. The pain resulting from whiplash doesn’t have to emerge right away; it can take up to 48 hours for whiplash pain to settle in.
Another symptom of whiplash includes tenderness in the neck and spinal area. Jerking your head can produce a misalignment in the vertebrae, causing pain when you press down on a certain area of your neck. After any kind of neck trauma, it is wise to gently feel along the length of your neck to make sure that there are no sore spots. Other symptoms include neck stiffness, decreased range of motion, and headaches.
How to Treat Whiplash
The treatment for whiplash depends on how severe the trauma was. For minor injuries, you should simply let the neck heal itself. The area may be a bit stiff or painful for a few days, but then the problem should clear itself up. You can also add ice in order to soothe the discomfort that you feel during the healing process.
If pain is a big issue, you can consider taking some pain medications. Start with an over-the-counter medication, and consider taking something stronger if that doesn’t work. Your doctor can advise you on what’s appropriate to take in your situation.
For neck strains that are persistent or severe, medical attention is necessary. It’s possible that your case of whiplash is underlying a more severe injury. According to a personal injury lawyer in Alexandria, sprains and severe strains will require a neck brace and possibly other interventions to make sure that further damage is not done.
When you have a trauma to the neck, it can be hard to tell exactly how serious the injury is. Whiplash is usually not serious, however, and you will know if your injury needs further inspection. Trust your body to let you know what you need to do to feel better.
When you undergo surgery, painkillers are usually prescribed to help you manage the pain during recovery. You may have a long road ahead of you, especially after a major procedure. However, the last thing you want is to fall prey to addiction. More people are ending up in drug rehab due to dependence on painkillers. They become hooked on the medication that was a must in the beginning, only to become a habit as time goes on. Discover ways to get off of prescription painkillers faster after your surgery and avoid problems with addiction down the line.
Make Sure You Get Enough Sleep
As you attempt to manage your body’s response to pain, you are going to need to maintain your strength. A solid night’s rest and breaks throughout the day can help your body to recharge. Sleep will also offer you a break from the pain. Melatonin, Valerian root, and other products can help you to get the rest you need. Allow yourself a few hours’ worth of nap time as you heal as well.
Reduce Stress
You need to create a positive environment for yourself during recovery. Watch movies you enjoy, listen to soothing music, and read. Include massage therapy in your daily routine and meditation if possible. When your body is relaxed, it will help you to overcome the pain that lingers after surgery. You will be able to find more natural methods to relax and reduce pain when you aren’t stressed.
Be Active
Physical activity is a must. Find ways to get your body moving without causing strain. It may be a short walk, a swim, or yoga. The key is to avoid causing more pain. Physical activity will give you a sense of release and help you to have a more positive attitude.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Nourish your body while you are recovering. It may be difficult to eat when you are experiencing pain, but you will only experience more pain if you avoid eating. Give your body the nutrients it needs to restore itself and include plenty of hydration. Find easy recipes or have a friend or loved one experiment with you.
Choose Natural Pain Remedies
You can replace prescription medication with natural pain relief. Willow bark, capsicum, curcumin, and fish oil have all been found to help reduce pain. Try a blend of natural pain relievers to find the best combination for you. Be aware of when your pain is at its worst, and find coping strategies that will help you through those moments. Acupuncture may offer you profound relief as well.
You can get off painkillers and avoid addiction after a surgical procedure. The key is to make adjustments in your lifestyle and have natural techniques that will relieve your pain. When your prescription runs out, don’t refill it. If you can manage to stop before it is gone, even better.
The road to recovery after an injury does not need to be long and arduous. For those with active lifestyles, it can be a challenge to cope with a different workout routine. These few methods can be used to quickly recover from injuries of almost any kind and return back to perfect health.
1. Create a Strict Diet
For many, injuries seem to go hand-in-hand with an unhealthy diet, but this can dramatically slow down the recovery process. It is often difficult during this period to be able to pick up on physical cues for hunger or thirst, so injured individuals should begin to eat and hydrate by the clock, not by feelings of hunger. Protein, healthy fats, healthy oils, and complex carbohydrates have all been shown to speed up this process.
2. R.I.C.E.
The R.I.C.E. method is one of the oldest systems for recovering from an injury and is generally a good idea for 24 to 72 hours after minor to moderate trauma such as a sprained ankle. This includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation to help reduce inflammation and improve the blood flow while managing pain and allowing the tissue to heal. The R.I.C.E. method should never be used on more serious injuries and patients should take care to limit how long ice is exposed to their skin to prevent nerve damage.
3. Heat, Cold, and Minor Stretching
After the first few days it is time to start thinking about long-term healing in addition to managing the pain and inflammation. Heat packs should not be used for the first two or three days of healing, but after the third day alternating hot and cold packs can be beneficial. This is also a time for gentle and light stretching. If any movement is still causing intense pain it is important to quit immediately and contact a medical professional.
4. Get Accurately Tested
It is vital to always skip the hearsay from family and friends and go straight to the professionals that can accurately assess the damage and create a treatment plan. Organic Motion and their partner Dari Sports have purpose-built scanners and motion capture technology that can carry out non-intrusive testing with almost immediate results. This means more time recovering and less time waiting for a second or third opinion.
5. Psychological Recovery
A serious injury may also come with some psychological issues such as a lack of confidence in addition to the physical problems. Injured patients may want to speak with a professional such as a sports psychologist about their options for recovering emotionally and psychologically with stress management tips or even visualization sessions.
Injuries can happen to anyone at any age, and this means everyone should be prepared with at least a few methods for a quick, healthy, and permanent recovery. These tips can help you get started on accurately treating your injuries so you can continue living your active lifestyle soon.
The degenerative disc disease is normally the reason why a person suffers from lower back pain. Although such disease may trigger the symptoms of lower back pain, there is still good news to this. That is- the pain is normally controllable with a variety of different treatment options.
Sufferer’s Goal
Majority of suffers of degenerative disc disease endure the symptoms of lower back pain that periodically flare up, although it doesn’t worsen over time. For these individuals, their major objectives for coping with lower back pain due to degenerative disc disease are the following:
- To get sufficient pain relief so they can engage in exercises for lower back pain and join in a healing program.
- To prevent the use of too much stress on the disc by means of appropriate posture and ergonomics.
- To try to control the lower back pain and be able to maintain the ability to effectively function at work and home.
Most kinds of surgery for continuing, incapacitating pain and failure to function due to degenerative disc disease are somewhat extensive, therefore it is normally for the benefit of many patients to be able to cope with lower back pain through non-surgical procedures and self-help. Eventually, lower back pain and other degenerative disc disease symptoms will gradually subside. Degenerative disc disease occurs as the disc begins to become firmer with age, and a firmer disc calms down the motion segment and hence lessens pain.
Lower Back Pain Treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease
The pain caused by degenerative disc disease is due to the mixture of the inflammation in the degenerated disc and the unsteadiness at the motion segment. Both the inflammation and unsteadiness need to be dealt with in treating back pain in order to be effective. To know more about back pain click here Spine Tech.
The treatments are even classified as active and passive. It is active when performed by the patient, and it is passive when it is performed to the patient. Normally, a mixture of treatments is utilized to help in controlling the symptoms.
Below are some of the passive treatments for lower back pain due to degenerative disc disease:
- Pain Medication
Usual pain medications used to cure lower back pain are NSAIDs, narcotic drugs, muscle relaxants, acetaminophen, and oral steroids. Each kind of medicine has strength, weakness and risks. The specific lower back problem of the patient and overall health are the determinants of which pain medication is necessary.
2. Epidural injections
This is injected through the spine to deliver steroids which can offer lower back pain relief be lessening the soreness in the affected area.
3. Massage
Therapeutic massage on the lower back is known to give lower back pain relief by enhancing blood flow, lessening muscle stiffness, escalating range of motion and increasing the levels of endorphin in the body.
On the other hand, below are active treatments for lower back pain:
- Exercise
For most sufferers, the only means to obtain long lasting healing is through active exercises. These exercises normally involved stretching to reduce low back pain, strengthening the low back to reduce pain, stretching and low-force aerobic exercises.
2. Stopping Smoking
Sufferers who also smoke are advised by their doctors to stop smoking in order to enhance their chance of healing and improve their blood circulation.
3. Weight Loss
In order to lessen the pain in the lower back, overweight sufferers should do something to lose weight. Once a sufferer loses weight, the quantity of stress in the ligaments and muscles of the lower back is also lessened.
By Dixie Somers
Gum pain can be one of the most excruciating and obnoxious pains you will ever feel in your life.Since your gums are such a sensitive area of the body, the slightest irritation can cause significant pain However, we often try to ignore this type of pain until it goes away.The problem is, ignoring gum pain can allow the problem to escalate until you are in even more pain. While sore gums can be caused by almost anything, these causes below are among the most common. Keep reading to determine what could be causing your pain, and how to get rid of it ASAP.
Poor Dental Hygiene
Many people don’t realize that one of the biggest causes of sore gums is poor dental hygiene. In addition to possibly causing gum disease, poor dental hygiene will also cause the buildup of plaque. When plaque starts to build on the teeth, the gums will become irritated and start to bleed. This is why your dentist is constantly giving you “flossing guilt” and trying to get you to floss nightly. Flossing protects the gums by getting rid of plaque before it has too much time to build up.
Wisdom Teeth
Pericoronitis is an infection of the gums that occurs when wisdom teeth only partially erupt. Food and plaque can easily get caught between the tooth and gums. This will allow bacteria to grow rapidly, which leads to the infection of the gums. In addition to the swelling and pain, pericoronitis also causes an extremely bad taste in your mouth. If you haven’t yet had your wisdom teeth removed, you could be experiencing pain in the gums towards the back of the mouth due to impacted wisdom teeth that don’t have room to grow.
Tobacco Use
Everyone knows that tobacco use greatly increases your chances at getting cancer, but beyond that, it also causes gum disease. If you have been using tobacco for a good portion of your life, then you will most likely experience gum pain. The best course of action is to meet with a dentist in order to determine just how much damage has been done to the gums and the rest of the mouth as well.
Medication
Several medications have the ability to irritate the gums. The reason for this is that saliva is needed to properly clean the gums, but most medications reduce the amount of saliva in the mouth. Birth control pills are the most common medications that are known to cause gum pain. If you are taking any medications that are causing your mouth to dry out, there are a few easy solutions that will get rid of dry mouth—including chewing gum or drinking more water.
Ill-Fitting Dentures
While this obviously only applies to a select group of people, ill-fitting dentures are only of the most common causes of gum pain. When dentures do not fit properly, they are going to scrape and rub against the gums every time you move your mouth. This damage to the gums is going to cause extremely painful gums over time. Having dentures that don’t fit perfectly are going to cause serious problems later down the road, so be sure to get the right fit in the beginning and talk with your dentist if there are any sizing issues that are causing discomfort.
Infections
While gingivitis or any other infection in the mouth is certainly going to cause gum pain, almost any other bacterial or viral infection will also damage your gums. The damage caused by the infection can intensify if you are forced to take medications. There are some home remedies, and over-the-counter medications or gels that will get rid of an infection—however, if the pain persists, it is best to see a dentist in case you have a full-fledged gum disease. Once the infection is gone, the gum pain should go away, so if you are still experiencing pain it probably means that the infection is still present.
We often ignore gum pain in hopes that it will fade, or take aspirin so it doesn’t bother us too much. However, ignoring this type of pain gives bacteria more time to form and can result in serious problems. The best way to reduce or eliminate the gum pain is by identifying the cause. If the typical remedies don’t work, then a trip to the dentist is in order. The sooner you can determine the root cause of the gum pain, the remedy is likely an easy one. The information for this article was provided by dental specialists who specialize in wisdom teeth research in Salt Lake City.
There are oral problems that are treatable or easy to control. However, there are times when treatments are not an option, and a tooth extraction is necessary. You can determine if you need your tooth removed by looking out for specific signs. This is where your senses come into play. You can see, smell, taste and feel the warning signs that indicate that tooth removal is necessary. Here are ways to know if you should have a bothersome tooth removed.
Excessive Crowding
Sometimes in order to prepare your mouth for cosmetic dentistry like braces, you will need to have a tooth removed that is preventing the procedure from succeeding. This is most common for people with overcrowded teeth, which can potentially even prevent developing teeth from erupting from the gums.
Radiating Pain
If you have throbbing pain that extends from your tooth to other areas in your mouth and body, you may need to have it removed. It is common for tooth decay to worsen until the pain associated with it radiates into the chest area. People who experience this type of pain may mistake it for a heart problem. When pain from the troublesome tooth radiates that far throughout the body, it means that it is too late to save the tooth.
Tooth Disintegration
Tooth disintegration indicates that the enamel is breaking apart due to rotting inside of the tooth. You can tell if your tooth is starting to disintegrate if you see small white particles when you rinse your mouth. If you see this symptom, be sure to contact your dental office, whether that is the Fairview Mall Dental Centre in Toronto or a clinic near you.
Bleeding Gums
If your gums change color in the area of the bad tooth and start to bleed, you need immediate attention. Gum color is an indicator that whatever is happening in your tooth is spreading to your gums. In some cases, an infection spreads from the tooth to the gums and then to the head. Infections that spread to the brain can cause death. A tooth extraction and antibiotics are the only way to prevent anything fatal from happening. You can also taste if your gums are bleeding. They will often taste bitter or salty.
Leaking
Leaking is common with tooth problems. If a clear fluid is coming from your mouth, you may need to have the bad tooth pulled. It can be a dental abscess. Leaking sometimes indicates that there is a tiny hole in your gums. Either way you need immediate professional oral care if you see any sign of a leak.
Dental crowding, compromised gum health, infections and many other conditions can affect you if you do not determine whether your tooth needs to be pulled. Paying close attention to your oral health is essential if you want to avoid any serious conditions from happening to you.
Minor headaches, bumps and bruises are all a part of life. However, this truth does not mean that you need to constantly feel in pain. What are the signs that your pain may be getting out of control and you need to go seek the assistance of a health care professional?
Recurring Pain in The Same Spot
Aches and pains throughout the body can and do happen. You might be affected by the weather, a minor fall you took yesterday or a recovering bruise. However, constantly having pain in the exact same spot can be the sign of an underlying issue. In many cases, something else is wrong with your body that is causing the pain to return time and time again.
Worsening Pain
When you are first injured, the pain is likely going to be worst at first and might initially intensify. However, in the event that the pain is staying around and increasing in intensity, you might have a real problem on your hands. Pain should eventually be alleviated, and you need to note if none of your regular pain killers are working to stop it from getting worse. You should also pay attention to whether or not the pain is spreading.
Injury to Vital Organs
In the event that you are injured or are experiencing a lot of pain, pay attention to exactly where the issues are. For example, if you are constantly feeling a throbbing in your head or are having troubles with your nervous system, the help of a professional is necessary. These professionals can be found at locations such as the hospital, your doctor’s office and Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine treatment center.
Family History
Knowing your family history is so incredibly important when it comes to your health, and failure to research conditions, ailments and illnesses that are a part of your family is a mistake. The pain you are experiencing could be a sign that you are in the early stages of a particular condition.
When You Just Don’t Feel Right
You are the only person who has been living inside your body for your whole life, and you know it well at this point. If you really just feel off or you are worried about your medical state, you should go to the doctor. In the event that you go and nothing is found to be wrong with you, at least you have the peace of mind that the doctor can bring.
Experiencing pain is uncomfortable, and no one wants to go through that. Fortunately, when you are in agony, professionals are available to help you out of this state.
Acupuncture is a form of complementary wellness that involves placing needles in meridian lines around the body to help improve health, wellbeing and specific medical problems. Now, new research appears to indicate that acupuncture could even help patients to recover following various surgeries, including Caesarean sections.
The study, published in the Chinese Medical Journal, followed the work of researchers who carried out acupuncture or electro acupuncture on a group of 60 women. There were also women in the group who belonged to the control, and did not have the treatment carried out on them. Astoundingly, the scientists found that the women who had received acupuncture therapy appeared to be suffering far lower levels of pain two hours after surgery than the women who had received no acupuncture. The women who received acupuncture asked for morphine an average of 10 minutes later than the women who had not, and they also used around 30 to 35 percent less morphine in the 24 hours following on from their surgery. As a result of this, they also suffered from far fewer opioid-related side effects.
Acupuncture is being supported by more and more scientific research of this type, and the effects of using acupuncture to treat pain are becoming better understood. The treatment is even now covered by some health insurance plans.
This is not the first study that has linked acupuncture to decreased use of painkillers after surgery. Another study looked at the results of using acupuncture either before or just after surgery, and found that whether the acupuncture was carried out before or after the actual surgery, the result was still a much lower level of pain-relief use in the patients after their surgery. Further research work now needs to be undertaken to find out how doctors can best use this new knowledge.
Not only does the odd twinge or sudden onslaught of vaginal pain hurt; it can cause you to be concerned for your overall wellbeing. Your vagina is your most intimate space, so it’s really scary when something might be going awry. Therefore, it’s good to know the main conditions that affect vaginal wellness, so that you know what symptoms to look out for. If any of the following sounds familiar, you should talk to your doctor.
1. Vagititus: According to sexual health and wellness writer Natasha Burton, author of The Little Black Book of Big Red Flags, vagititus ‘is a catchall medical term to describe vaginal pain, burning and itching that coincides with an infection or inflammation happening between your legs. The discomfort can be caused by an influx of bacteria, irritation from creams, or a sexual partner.’
2. Dyspareunia: ‘One-fifth of women experience this condition of painful sexual intercourse, which can happen before, during, or even after sex,’ Burton explains. ‘Dyspareunia is most common in menopausal women due to their reduced oestrogen levels, which lead to thinner vaginal walls, lower levels of lubrication and reduced sexual sensation.’ Sara Gottfried, MD, OB/GYN, author of The Hormone Cure, adds, ‘Up to 25% of the Pill users have vaginal dryness and pain with sex, which totally defeats the purpose of going on these puppies. Other causes include infections of the vagina, cervix, fallopian tubes or lower urinary tract, scarring from childbirth, a prolapsed womb, endometriosis, radiotherapy, allergies, and stress.’
3. Vaginismus: Burton notes that, similar to dyspareunia, vaginismus ‘is more specific to pain that happens during penetration. Basically, the pubococcygeus muscle reflexes in a way that makes the vagina tense suddenly, making it nearly impossible to have sex or even insert a tampon without your vagina hurting really, really badly. Causes can include stress, fear, partner issues, trauma, childbirth, menopause, and certain medications.’
4. Vulvodynia: Vulvodynia ‘is characterised by burning, stinging or sharp pangs at the vaginal entrance, labia and vulva,’ says Burton. ‘The condition can flare up once in a while or happen constantly, but either way, this condition can last for years.’ Gottfried points out, ‘Women of any age can contract vulvodynia, and scientists are still trying to determine exact causes. Causes may include nerve injuries, trauma, genetic factors, inflammation, hypersensitivity to yeast infections, allergies, history of sexual abuse or frequent antibiotic use.’
5. Dysmenorrhea: Burton notes, ‘This intense pain before and/or during your period can include sharp pain, shooting pain or burning sensations. (Think of this condition as, like, the worst cramps ever.) Typically, this pain will ebb as your period slows down but if the pain is really intense, it could be a symptom of endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical stenosis (narrowing of the opening to the uterus), a tumour, or even toxic shock syndrome.’
6. Menorrhagia: ‘This condition sometimes comes along with dysmenorrhea and is characterised by a super heavy—or super long—period, which could be caused by abnormal blood clotting or disruption in how your hormones regulate your cycle,’ Burton details. Gottfriend advises, ‘Any period lasting longer than seven days should be discussed with your friendly neighbourhood gynaecologist.’ While you’re waiting for your appointment, Gottfriend recommends noshing on kale (for the iron).
7. Adenomyosis: Burton outlines, ‘The pelvic pain you’d feel from this condition occurs when the cells that typically line your uterus grow into the muscular tissue of the wall of your uterus. Typically, there are no other symptoms except your cramps getting worse with every period you have (the condition can also cause both dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia)…The cause of this condition is still unknown and while there are treatments available to ease the discomfort, sometimes a full hysterectomy is the only cure.’
Arthritis can certainly take its toll on your emotional wellbeing and day-to-day life, but the real blow is dealt to your fitness levels. With stiff and achy joints, just getting out of bed in the morning can be a real challenge, let alone doing some exercise. Surely, it’s just better for your joint wellness to throw in the towel, right? Wrong. Certified Personal Trainer Jen Mueller argues that arthritic problems actually give you a reason to get up and get moving. According to Mueller, ‘Exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness and increases flexibility, muscle strength, cardiac fitness, and endurance. It also helps with weight reduction and contributes to an improved sense of wellbeing.’ But how do you start a programme that helps – rather than hurts – your arthritic pain?
There are three types of exercise that best deal with arthritis, so your programme needs to include a balance of the following:
- Range-of-motion exercises. Movements such as stretching help your joints to move normally, relieve stiffness, and maintain or increase your flexibility. You should include range-of-motion exercises at least every other day.
- Strengthening exercises. In order to keep or increase your muscle strength, and support and protect your joints, you need to perform strengthening exercises such as weight training, resistance exercises, nautilus and body weight exercises. Unless you have severe pain or swelling in your joints, you should include strengthening exercises every other day.
- Aerobic or Endurance exercises. Bicycle riding, walking, swimming and using cardio gym machines helps to improve your heart health, control your weight, enhance your body’s overall functioning and relieve pressure on and inflammation in your joints. Include 20 – 30 minutes of aerobic exercises three times per week unless you have severe pain or swelling in your joints.
So, how do you begin? Mueller recommends, ‘Begin with easy, range-of-motion exercises and low-impact aerobics. As you become more comfortable with a low-level program, it is possible to progress to more advanced exercises. For example, you might start with water exercise (easiest on the joints) and progress to walking and/or biking or sports. Check with your doctor to learn which sports and exercises would be safe for you to try.’ However, when you are exercising, there are certain things you need to remember in order to workout safely and effectively:
1. Move daily: To prevent stiffness and loss of joint movement, you should move your joints daily. ‘Exercises should be done on a regular basis,’ says Mueller. ‘You should try to do them on good days and bad days, although you may have to modify the programme if you are having more pain than usual.’
2. Go gently: Mueller asserts, ‘An inflamed joint should only be moved gently through its range of motion. It is important to listen to your body and not overdo it. If an exercise hurts, stop! Pain (other than normal arthritis discomfort) is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. If you get tired, rest! Wait a few minutes, then continue when you are ready.’ Most experts will agree that if your pain persists for more than one hour after exercise, you are doing too much.
3. Start right: ‘Always begin a session with some slow warm-up exercises to reduce stress on the joints,’ Mueller advises. ‘You should attempt to achieve a full range of motion by moving until you feel a slight stretch. Do not force the motion, going only as far as you feel comfortable.’ Remember to move at your own pace, and perform each exercise in a slow and steady motion.
No matter how old you are or what level of activity you do, the chances are that your wellness and wellbeing will be affected by some form of pain during your lifetime. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complementary therapy that is designed to help ease your discomfort, whether you’re suffering from knee pain, sciatica or menstrual pain.
There are several Chinese pain relief medications, with varying functions, indications and dosages. These remedies have already stood the test of time and are based on traditional formulas that date back for thousands of years.
Traumatic injuries can include things like bruising and swelling. These occur when an area of the body experiences trauma of some sort, whether that be a direct contact with an object, a fall, a sprain or something of this ilk.
The Chinese herb Chin Too Tieh Shang Wan (also known as chin koo dyeh shahng wahn) is known in English as the Muscles and Bones Injury Pill (which, let’s face it, is a little easier for Westerners to say!). It is used in cases where traumatic injuries have occurred, such as sprains, swelling and bruising. The pill helps to get the blood moving and also reduces swelling and internal bleeding, plus of course relieves the pain that is usually resultant from such an injury.
Chin Koo Tieh Shang Wan is the main pill that is used in these types of circumstance. The chief herb that makes up the formula for this pill is Panax pseudoginseng (san qi) which is also an active ingredient in the pill Yunnan Pai Yao. Chin Koo also contains the ingredient myrrh and frankincense, two better-known herbs that are used to increase circulation and reduce pain levels.
These herbs have been used as an incense, too, for many thousands of years. They are also available as essential oils, and these work to stimulate the circulation of blood.
If you’re worried that your sexual wellness and wellbeing may be affected by endometriosis, it may be time to look further into the condition.
The condition cannot usually be diagnosed via a pelvic exam (unless there is a lesion or pelvic mass) but you should still start the process of diagnosis by visiting your GP and describing your symptoms. Your doctor will most likely refer you for a laparoscopy, which is a procedure whereby a small telescope is passed through the wall of the stomach (usually through the navel) to allow doctors to see if they can see endometrial tissue.
Laparoscopy cannot detect every case of endometriosis, however, as some women suffer from deep endometriosis, which means that the endometrial tissue is imbedded deep into the body. Many women have both types of lesions, so some extent of the disease can be seen during the procedure and yet there is more still hidden.
Women who have deep endometriosis usually have more pain that women who have a more superficial version of the disease.
The best starting place, in that case, may be a detailed medical history, listing all of your symptoms of the disease so that your health professional can ascertain what kind of level of endometriosis you may be suffering from and provide a correct diagnosis.
When the laparoscopy is carried out, the patient is generally put under general anaesthesia so that the laparoscope can be inserted through the abdominal wall. The surgeon can then manipulate the telescope to look for signs of adhesions or other abnormalities such as lesions, noting their size and location.
If lesions can be seen, it is very easy to diagnose the disease, but when the disease is not visible it can make diagnosis much more difficult. This means that some practitioners have to make a diagnosis based on clinical evaluation and the patient’s response to medication.
When you think about exercising, you may have certain concerns about your wellbeing. Sure, exercise is good for your wellness, but what about the pain involved, or the risk of potential injuries? You’ve heard the phrase “no pain, no gain” but does fitness really have to hurt? Not according to Julie Isphording, former Olympian for the US, who notes that there are still gains to be made without workout pain.
Isphording comments, ‘For a long time I thought that being in pain was part of the plan, a sign of progress. I was so used to hobbling around on achy feet, with leg muscles so sore that I couldn’t walk up and down stairs without holding on to the banister for dear life. Pain was a persistent part of my life. Getting out of the car took at least five minutes. I couldn’t keep up with my 62-year-old mother on a little walk. I would push myself through races and run at least 100 miles a week training for the Olympics and the New York City marathon… even the Thanksgiving Day 10K. I ran well. I ran fast. But THE PAIN was always there. I learned to live with it. But I have finally learned after 23 years of running that you just can’t conquer pain. You only delay the inevitable. Once the pain takes over – once you wave the white flag – all your courage, determinations, talent and tenacity will not carry you one more step.’
So what was Isphording’s solution? Calm and gentle workouts. ‘A dynamic group of alternative fitness workouts like yoga, Pilates, and Tai chi-are now in health clubs, gyms and on home videos,’ Isphording points out. ‘Their approach to fitness emphasizes flexibility, balance and breathing. The idea is to “think” through your moves – slowly, effectively and gracefully – not just to get a better butt, but to integrate a balanced approach to fitness that helps you to relieve stress and bring more calmness to your life. That’s great – I am all for less stress. But where is the “workout” part? I’m a runner – I’m used to intensity. Can you get an effective, enhancing body workout too? Absolutely.’ Let’s take a closer look at the gains you expect to make from an intense workout, and see whether or not gentle workouts can provide the same benefits.
1. Endurance: Isphording enthuses that gentle workouts can still provide the endurance you’re looking for. ‘The movements involve lots of reps and holding one position for a long time,’ says Isphording. ‘This prolonged practice will train your muscles to keep working for an extended period of time.’
2. Strength: While gentle workouts tick the “yes” box for endurance, when it comes to strength you have more of a “maybe” on your hands. Isphording explains, ‘If the resistance is progressive – either with bands, weights, or body-weight resistance – than yes, you will build strength. However, most of these type routines do not involve weights that challenge your muscles to the point where they are strengthened.’
3. Flexibility: ‘Consistent stretching of various muscles will improve your flexibility,’ Isphording asserts. ‘Most of these type workouts involve very focused stretching routines with lots of breathing exercises to enhance the movements. However, the key to flexibility is consistency. Muscles need to be properly warmed up and stretched regularly to maintain and enhance a joint’s range of motion.’
4. Weight loss: The weight loss benefits of gentle workouts are questionable. Isphording argues, ‘Most of these workouts do not provide enough exertion to get your heart rate up and therefore burn a lot of calories. So they are not the best fat burners out there. However, with any focused movement you are burning calories.’
If you’ve injured your foot recently, you’ll want to do all you can to become fully mobile again in the shortest amount of time. Of course, it’s also important to ensure that your foot is healing properly during your recuperation time. Here are some things you can do to restore function of your foot and make you more comfortable without causing further damage.
Limit Your Movement
If it hurts badly when you try to walk, try to limit your movement as much as possible. The more pressure you put on your foot when it’s injured, the longer it will take for it to heal. Trying to walk normally too quickly can also damage the nerves in your foot. Rest your foot as much as you can, and keep essential items close to you so you won’t have to move far to get what you need while working or enjoying leisure time.
Keep Painkillers Handy
Painkillers can reduce inflammation in your foot and reduce the chemical release of prostoglandins in your body. Since prostoglandins were already sent to your brain when the foot injury occurred, you’ll need to reverse the work of these chemicals during healing time to increase your comfort. Ibuprofen and aspirin are among the most common pain relievers, but if you prefer to go the natural route, you can take herbs like willow bark (which aspirin is made from), St. John’s wort or chamomile to soothe the discomfort in your foot.
Apply a Cold Compress
Applying an ice pack or a pack of frozen veggies to your foot will reduce external swelling and make it easier for you to move your foot. It’s best to ice your foot in 20 minute increments, about 4 or 5 times a day until your injury is healed. However, wait 45 minutes in between compress treatments to keep your nerve endings intact.
Elevate Your Foot
Resting your foot on an elevated surface will increase circulation and keep your foot from becoming inflamed. Any time you feel throbbing in your foot or your foot feels warm from a rush of blood at the site of the injury, use a chair or ottoman to raise your foot slightly above the rest of your body to help relieve pain.
Wrap the Injury
Wrapping your foot in gauze or a bandage can speed up healing time. The compression of the bandage keeps your foot from swelling, and could make it easier for you to walk.
Properly Gauge Your Ability
As your foot injury starts to heal, start taking small steps to increase your mobility. This will help you to regain function of your foot at a rate that works for your body. However, any time you feel pain, stop moving and take a seat so you don’t injure your foot further.
Consult Your Doctor
If your foot injury isn’t improving after a week or so and you’re feeling constant pain that isn’t relieved after bandaging and compressing the injury, go back to your doctor to have your foot examined. For instance, if you live in the Las Vegas area, see your nearest Las Vegas podiatrist for a thorough examination. The pain could be a sign of a hairline fracture, or a more serious problem that requires surgery.
Physical therapy may also be a viable option if you feel the function of your foot is being impaired for a long period of time. However, by taking special care of your injury, you’ll usually find that the pain and inflammation subside in a short time. Be sure to consult with your doctor after getting any injury. Although these tips will help with most food injuries, every injury is different and it’s best to get advice from your doctor on steps to take for the best healing.
Pain during sexual intercourse is also called dyspareunia, and it affects around the sexual wellness and wellbeing 16 percent of all women in the United States who are sexually active. This condition is often overlooked, however, as women feel reluctant to talk about the issue. Current gynaecological training is also very sparse when it comes to the subject area of female pain during sex.
Due to this, most women who suffer from this do not tell anyone, and instead leave it untreated or look to home remedies to help them feel better.
Pain during sex is the main symptom of the condition, and it can be caused by both psychological and physical condition. As well as the pain during vaginal entry (which can also occur with tampons), some people feel a sharp pain during certain sexual positions, including a deep pain associated with their partner thrusting. Other types of pain can include an aching pain, a friction pain, tenderness of the bladder or urethra, dryness or a burning sensation during sexual intercourse.
There are a number of things that can contribute towards pain during sexual intercourse. It can be due to a lack of arousal, stemming from psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, fear of intercourse or mistrust of partner. In this case, some form of relationship therapy or couples counselling can help to break down the mental barriers that are stopping sex from being a pleasurable experience.
Sexual pain can also be caused by various physical issues, including things like endometriosis, uterine prolapse, pelvic inflammatory disease, retroverted uterus, cystitis, uterine fibroids, irritable bowel syndrome, haemorrhoids, ovarian cysts, cancer therapy, scarring from previous surgery, insufficient lubrication, urinary tract infections, vaginismus, skin disorders such as eczema.
Many of these conditions require medical treatment, but if not you can do things like prolonging foreplay, using a personal lubricant or practising kegel exercises.
Recovering after a serious injury is a very frustrating time for many people. Some might feel confused by their symptoms or unsure of their doctor’s orders. While some people might feel anxious about what to expect during their recovery period, they are also likely to feel depressed by any lack of mobility they might be experiencing. While these feelings are completely normal, it helps to know what you might expect during the recovery period. There are different things you can do to ensure a smooth recovery.
Don’t Rush
Many people become injured all over again simply due to lack of patience. If the treating physician has recommended bed rest, then following those orders is always the best option. You should always be cautious when you are moving around so that you do not fall or re-injure yourself. Also, your doctor will probably tell you to listen to your body’s cues. If you feel like you need to rest, then rest. If the patient experiences any swelling or pain, their body is probably trying to tell them to rest.
Recommended Treatment
Depending on your injury, you may be recommended to have surgery. This probably sounds scary if you have never gone through a surgery before. Trust your doctors recommendations, but if you feel you need a second opinion, by all means, get a second opinion. The surgery and other recommend treatments will most likely be able to assist with the healing process. Although you may experience increased pain in the days following surgery, the treatment will help decrease chronic pain in the long run.
Pain Management
Patients should be advised to closely follow doctor’s orders concerning medication. It is very easy to become dependent on muscle relaxers and pain medication while recovering after a serious injury. You should also only take advised medication as recommended. If they have any side effects or if the patient is still in a great deal of pain, they should immediately alert their physician. Medication should never be discontinued without the doctor’s direct approval.
Ongoing Care
After the patient starts to recover from a serious injury, their doctor will recommend rehabilitation and ongoing chiropractic care. These treatments will help strengthen your body after a serious injury. Regaining strength lost during injury and the initial recovery period is crucial in long-term recovery success. At rehabilitation facilities, such as Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centres of Ontario, patients learn and implement a variety of exercises and therapies for their injuries. These exercises are often helpful in the overall recovery after a serious injury because they can be done at home at the patient’s convenience. In addition to rehabilitation, chiropractors in Scarborough can provide long-term care to lingering discomfort. Chiropractors can perform quick manual procedures to manipulate the body and provide relief from pain, pressure and tension.
While recovering from a serious injury has the potential to be a highly stressful time, following doctor’s orders and knowing what to expect can be helpful. If you have any specific concerns regarding an injury, please contact your physician.
Circumcision is a process in which the foreskin on the penis is removed, a practice that has increased and decreased in popularity for thousands of years. In certain parts of the world, it is still a popular practice, such as in the Middle East and the United States, whereas in South America and Europe it has never been something men have done. In the Book of Genesis in the Jewish Torah, and the Christian Old Testament, we are told of God’s deal with Jewish patriarch Abraham – if Abraham his sons, his slaves and all descendants would practice circumcision, God would bless them with a kingdom on Earth. But this practice actually predated the even stated in religious scripts, and ancient hieroglyphs show that Egyptian men practiced circumcision. In fact, studies show that there are many cultures who have practiced this tradition; Mayans, Aztecs, Samoans and Ethiopians, to name but a few. For religious people, the reasons are clear. But why do people who are neither Jewish, Muslim or Christian continue to circumcise their offspring? It’s believed that as many as 75 per cent of non-Jewish, non-Muslim men in America were circumcised in 2007. For many people, it’s considered cleaner and healthier, but is this really the case? And shouldn’t a child be allowed to grow up with all of their parts in tact to enable them to make their own decision about such matters, without having the choice made for them?
There are valid reasons, medically, for circumcision; studies have shown that it can reduce the risk of contracting HIV by as much as 60 per cent. But if it’s so effective in reducing the risk of this health epidemic, why is circumcision more popular? Opponents of the practice rightly point out that basic safe sex practices will also reduce these risks, without young boys having to go through such a painful procedure. But while it isn’t a cure-all practice, it could work as part of a larger plan. It’s also been shown to reduce the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia and HPV. However, while there are arguments for the reduced rate of penile cancer with circumcision, this argument doesn’t take into account the rarity of penile cancer – there were just 1250 cases in the United States in 2008. The cleanliness factor is a common argument for circumcision, with the fact that it is easier to keep a penis clean and this encourages good hygienic practice. In men who are not circumcised, keeping the foreskin clean is vital in order to prevent bacteria from growing.
Anti-circumcision activists claim that this practice causes unnecessary pain to infants, and it’s no secret that the process is painful. Modern pain relief and improved surgical procedures have reduced the pain to a minimum however. Circumcised men don’t have to worry about the painful maladies that can sometimes affect uncircumcised men, such as phimosis (which occurs when the foreskin won’t retract) or paraphimosis (where the foreskin, once retracted, won’t recover the tip of the penis). These conditions can often require circumcision in adult life, to help remove the related swelling and accompanying pain. There are a number of competing claims regarding sexuality as well, with some people claiming that sex is better with an uncircumcised penis, and vice versa. It should be left, however, up to each parent to decide what is best for their sons, and to weigh up the pros and cons on this issue. For boys who have been circumcised, they will unlikely know or care either way, and the same with uncircumcised boys.
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